song profile

Survivor (Copyright Timothy Eldridge 2009)

We were war-time lovers
Then you my war-time bride
And with all of war's unfairness
It fell on us to survive
Gone the constant threat of death
It felt so sweet to win
But you said as we turned to face the peace
Now the hardest part begins

Old before my time
Just twenty-three when we were demobbed
I did my best with the happiness
For the others who'd been robbed
Two fine sons, a lovely wife
A life that looked so blessed
But after years of combat
Nothing ever so intense

Chorus
Not a single day goes by
I don't ask myself
Why me?
I know I'm not the only one
But I still ask myself
Why me?

Decade followed decade
And the memories wouldn't let me be
Other survivors turned to drink
But no answer there for me
Little by little things slipped away
There was nothing I could do
First the business then the house
And then you left me too

Repeat chorus

Seems they're laying you down to rest
At the church where you gave me your hand
You know you won't be seeing me there
And I know you'll understand
Thirty years since you told the ghosts
You were giving up the fight
Thirty years of living apart
But you've never really left my side

I've found tranquility and peace
Singing in choir, helping out in church
And when it's crowded in the pub
I'm behind the bar to serve
Soon this fight will end and then
The skies will quickly clear
I won't ask myself each waking day
Why me, my friends, why me?

Repeat chorus
Copyright Timothy Eldridge 2009